# A socially prescribed creative play intervention for new parents: investigating post traumatic stress around birth and changes in postnatal depression and reflective function

## TL;DR

This study explores how a creative play program for new parents affects mental health and social connections, finding it reduces postnatal depression.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is evaluating a socially prescribed creative play intervention's impact on postnatal depression and social capital in new parents.

## Key findings

- Participants showed significant reductions in postnatal depression scores after the intervention.
- Birth trauma scores predicted later depression and reflective functioning uncertainty scores.
- Social opportunities became a favorite part of the program for participants after attending.

## Abstract

Parenthood is a key transition period which involve emotional, social and physical adjustments. Social prescribing is a method that connects people to community-based activities, groups, and services to addressing various needs impacting their health and wellbeing. This pilot investigation aimed to assess whether a curated socially prescribed creative play programme would impact upon new parents’ social connection, mental health and reflective function through a programme designed to support these changes.

This study was part of a 5-week long socially prescribed creative play programme at a family theatre company in the North of England, aimed at providing social capital to families while teaching creative play. In total, 57 parents (M = 30.73, SD = 6.20) completed baseline and post-intervention measures of birth trauma experiences (City Birth Trauma Scale), postnatal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) reflective function (Reflective Functioning Questionnaire), and qualitative, open-ended questions on social opportunities. Descriptive analyses were completed using t-tests and chi-square tests, while repeated measures ANOVAs were used to answer questions around the main analyses.

The participants experienced a statistically significant reduction in postnatal depression scores following the intervention, but no changes were found in reflective function or birth trauma scores; secondly, birth trauma scores predicted later depression scores as well as reflective functioning uncertainty scores (but not certainty scores). Qualitative analysis found social opportunities were not why parents came but was, after attending, their favourite part of the socially prescribed programme. Those parents reporting on social opportunities were more likely to reference their own needs while non-social activities were associated with their child’s needs.

Socially prescribed creative play programmes for new parents could be a “waiting well” intervention. A longer duration and trauma informed focus would need to be considered in future cohorts.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-025-02578-3.